Amazon Drivers Get More Deliveries By Hanging Smartphones On Trees

Chicago-based Amazon contract delivery drivers are trying to get more delivery orders by hanging their phones outside Amazon delivery points and warehouses.

Bloomberg recently reported a new trend among Whole Foods and Amazon drivers in Chicago. These drivers hung their smartphones on trees close to the warehouses of these companies. They also parked their cars nearby, all to be the first to accept new delivery orders.

Apparently, Amazon’s system will automatically choose drivers based on their location. So by staying close to the warehouses, the drivers can get a boost in getting access to the offers. The drivers will install the Amazon Flex app in these phones that are synced with other drivers’ phones, making it difficult for Amazon to find offenders.

According to a driver, the retail giant knows about the drivers’ practice but does nothing about it. An Amazon spokesperson, when speaking to Business Insider, said that Amazon knew about this tactic and claimed it wasn’t very effective.

An internal email suggested that other drivers had notified Amazon about the practice. While the company promised to investigate, it also said that the results of the investigation wouldn’t be shared.

The trend of hanging phones on trees is proving the cutthroat competition among drivers.

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